Mr. Rashid, the quote from Bull Halsey has long been one of my favorites, but I apply it to all technology...use it first before we know the consequences.
Of course I'm not convinced all new technology is good or something should be done because it can be done.
It's kind of the Eastman approach to the electoral count in 2021. Whether it will stand constitutional scrutiny or not shouldn't stand in the way of not counting the votes; because if it's thrown back to the states and the results change, then it's much more difficult to be constitutionally scrutinized because it was thrown back to the states which congress could do and the judicial scrutiny would become something different....
We throw new technologies onto the world and it is difficult to later retract them. Like the fight over gas engines and fossil fuel powered electricity. There is a difference between scientific learning and technological use
Gunpowder existed before guns. Guns were thrown into the mix before too much was thought about the consequences...some are making warnings about AI and CRISPR today. If we were truly the rational creatures many claim us to be we would think first.
For instance the obsessions with aliens invading earth or us moving to another planet. We already know extended stays in space alter the human physique. Evolution shows us that even here on earth, changes in the atmospheric condition, gravitational or electro-magnetic alterations, water conditions, etc. can effect evolution, and evolution can affect those. It really doesn't matter if life has been on mars, if we were to live there we would survive only by evolving to conditions on Mars and those conditions would create an evolutionary response and humans, plants, animals would need to evolve from the humans, plants and animals into something else.
Knowledge of something's possibilities is not the same as technologies that are developed from those possibilities.
Perhaps rational beings need to learn that just because we can doesn't necessarily equate to because we can it will be better.
Rahm Emmanuel should be recalled as ambassador to Japan for insulting the Japanese people. He cannot be effective. How is he even a democrat? ( small d or capital d)
More evidence that the U.S. is willing to use my tax dollars to break international laws with abandon, at will. We are the bully of the world and I'm ashamed and angry.
I’m a 61 year old American and this is the first time I’ve ever heard about any disagreeing voices from the military in WWII speaking against the nuclear bombing. It’s adding to the compilation of information about historical American policies and world-wide foreign manipulation that has been coming out in recent years. The advent of social media has been the biggest source of the truth in decades. The governments can’t suppress everything, nor everyone, from sharing the information they have kept so long from the general public. I no longer feel proud of America due to the shameful legacy and policies - that haven’t changed and continue to this day. I don’t understand how the government is still supporting Israel during this genocide, when most of the world is saying this is criminal behavior. Learning how America is concurrently involved in other countries internal conflicts is also disheartening and frankly scary for the future.
Thank you Qasim for your efforts to help and educate!
Actually, Japan dismissed Israel and was hoping America pulls out. They wanted a peaceful ceremony and having either would have disrupted and disturbed survivors of that massacre!
This fucking pissed me off so much. But what do we expect from Rahm Emmanuel? I can't imagine a less appropriate ambassador to Japan than this asshole with negative couth.
Wow. Your historical review revealed a lot I didn't know about senior American military leaders opposing dropping the atom bomb and Japanese efforts to negotiate peace.
As usual, you write with great power and clarity. Bravo!!
According to Le Monde, UK informed the Nagasaki mayor that disinviting Israel created an equivalency with Russia and Belarus, the other two nations that were not invited and created an impression that Israeli actions in Gaza were as bad as Russia’s in Ukraine !!
The moral bankruptcy and hypocrisy of Western nations have never been starker.
The bombing of Japan is an issue about which I have always had mixed feelings, often too influenced by the last book I read on the subject. But I have no argument with your condemnation of Israel and the US for standing with Israel over Japan. What is this fascination we have with Israel? We feel guilt about the holocaust (as we should) but none about the atomic bombing??
I'm also confused as to why the statue you show is caucasian.
Finally, scientists are and were no more qualified to make moral decisions than Trump's cult.
Sigh… I hate to admit that I am thoroughly confused by our country’s back and forth wishwash position on « world peace ». It’s bad enough that we are tearing each other apart right here at home (mass shootings, racist and hateful violence, etc), but the way we interact with other countries is… I don’t even know. One minute the powers that be are pushing for peace treaties and ceasefires, the next they’re boycotting peacekeeping operations. It’s a never ending clusterfuck.
Great article, thanks for shining light on this important topic! Who are the other five Nations that boycotted the anniversary in solidarity for Israel? Their behavior is absolutely shameful and unacceptable.
Qasim, thank you for this; I wouldn't have known and am deeply disappointed. There was nothing positive to be gained by this boycott and everything to lose. And it flies in the fact of the idea that the US supports Israel's security but does not support the Gaza war... Sure hope that Kamala agrees with this distinction and makes this public as soon she can.. It has also not been so public that our military was against dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki... it was suggested to drop on Tokyo
Bay which would have made the point and killed less people. Whatever was Truman thinking:...???
Sometimes I wonder if Biden really makes the decisions, at least in certain cases. I'm not suggesting Kamala is, either, because I doubt she is, but I wonder who is. US policy on Israel in view of its atrocities against Gazans doesn't make much sense. I'm also surprised that these other countries withdrew, too. If I recall correctly, I think they are UK, France, Germany & Italy.
Regarding atrocities against Gazans, this is so important that seems the President must make decisions, and he has not been clear. This is important enough that he should make his policy clear across departments especially with State... The other countries didn't drop an A bomb on Japan... it is up to us to honor this event.
His disappointing policy or lack thereof on Gaza was one of the reasons for low approval of Bidens candidacy...
I can't think of anyone worse than Donnie Trump. But I have to admit that I had been prepared to "hold my nose, and vote for Biden." He has some significant flaws, but his "ironclad" support for Israel and Netanyahu is the worst. He has blocked otherwise unanimous UN motions against Israeli genocide of innocent Palestinians and others, and now, he lacks the humility and ability to acknowledge mistaken bad behavior on the US' part that should have led him to send an envoy to Japan with hat in hand, and with available apology. I will assume this decision was his, and not Harris'. Truman took heat for that nuclear decision. Does Biden somehow not know that? Or, and I hate to think it, does he just not care? I truly am hopeful that Harris and Walz will be better than this.
I feel embarrassed. Is the USA a moral/ethical desert? Hello! We are the ones who dropped the bombs. We were trying to get the technology first, before the Germans in WWII. Many of the scientists were refugees from Europe who knew exactly what the danger was. But the scientists also were thinking of it as a deterrent - which since WWII it has been, thank goodness. The Mayor’s point in not inviting Israel is to promote peace over war, and he is on firm moral ground. If other countries boycott, it’s too bad. But for us to boycott is indefensible. We don’t need to further make clear we support Israel; is anyone in doubt? But here was an opportunity to stand for peace, for international rules of engagement, for ethical behavior……..and we squandered it. For what? The Mayor and Japan are trying to honor the victims and point the way to a better, nuclear bomb free, violence free peace loving future. How on earth can we defend this decision? Who made this decision? I have questions!
I hope we all have enough self awareness to be embarrassed.
Dropped two nuclear ones on Japan, and sold lots more to Netanyahu.
Apparently, Oppenheimer himself came to think of it as a mistake.
It's amazing that the Jews/Israelis, who make a millennia-long career out of complaining that "everybody's picking on [us]" behave as they do toward the Palestinians. This is precisely what Passover and Yom Kippur are for: to remind you not to do this kind of thing. Absolutely right, Ms Koppell: peace over war. And no one should know this better than the Jews.
I support my offspring, too. That means I taught them to behave properly. It doesn't mean I encouraged or even enabled them to ride roughshod over everyone else. Had I failed them that way, I would, as you say, have squandered my role as a parent.
I have the same question you do, but as I said, I'm assuming it was Biden who decided. Although Walz has avoided commenting on the Middle East, too, as if it was a third rail he didn't want to touch. So it's possible Harris could have concurred, or at least agreed not to express a difference of opinion.
I really wonder who is making some of these decisions. I'm pretty sure it's not Harris, but I doubt it's Biden, either, other than possibly approving what someone else in the government says.
Of course, it is. After all, as Truman said, "the buck stops here". But do others in government see Biden as a pushover, who will meekly sign onto whatever they want?
I really have the feeling, & I know I'm not alone, that others in the government are making a lot of the decisions & running the government, & Biden to some degree is more or less a figurehead. On most issues, the government has been run quite well, so there are a lot of competent members of the government, which is a good thing. But on this issue, it seems they are blinded by a loyalty to Israel which has the US always unquestioningly automatically backing Israel, which in my view, has been a big mistake, at least since the enormity of the suffering on Gazans perpetrated by Israel became clear. And by the way, it's not the only issue this administration has been wrong or lax on, possibly fatally. The failure by the DOJ & FBI to hold accountable Trump & all the other Republican members of Congress & the federal judiciary who have subverted the democratic processes of America has been inexcusably irresponsible & dangerously derelict.
This is what must change in our government. I'm not sure Harris is the one to do it, which is why I was pulling for real reformers & leaders of conscience like Elizabeth Warren & Jamie Raskin to have a chance to run for President.
I totally agree with you about Warren and Raskin. And you can say what you want about Sanders' age, but... I would have been very happy to have the buck stop at Sen Harris' desk. Then, she completely surrendered her edge in the primaries, and I can't tell if she's gotten it back. We'll see if she wipes the floor with Donnie during one or more debates. I'm very satisfied with Walz.
Maybe I'm missing your point, or something else, but when Donnie was whining about a stolen election, 65 judges told him to drop dead. The DOJ and FBI were diligent after 1/6, and many people pled guilty and were otherwise incarcerated. The other members of Congress whined, too, but nothing came of it.
The big problem is Mitchy McConnell, who saw to it that we would have a SCOTUS that would destroy anything like democracy in this country. I don't know that the DOJ or FBI could have done anything about Mitchy.
I agree about Bernie. He's as sharp as anyone. Hasn't lost anything mentally, & remains the conscience of Washington, DC. But in a campaign where age was such an issue, putting in the oldest person yet was probably not a winner, although who really knows?
I am also pleased with Walz. And since running for President, Kamala has been virtually flawless. I instinctively recoil at the thought of someone being coronated the nominee, especially one who has never gotten a vote for President on her own. But I recognize the messiness of a fair primary, which we were denied this time, & I was impressed in a sense by all the Democratic bigwigs galvanizing around her. There's a lot of uncertainty about what she stands for though. She should have the edge in a one on one debate, as long as she puts on her prosecutorial attitude.
What you're missing from my comment is that many members of Trump's administration & Congress were in on the attempt to overturn the election results & incite an insurrection, breaking their oaths of office (& much worse, in some cases), which according to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, is worthy of expulsion, & probably of prosecution as well. The investigation & prosecution of Trump was very tardy & not serious enough, at least until Jack Smith became in charge, & as a result, most of the trials have been delayed until after the election by corrupt, antidemocratic, anti-constitutional allies of Trump on the Supreme Court & an obviously biased & incompetent Trump-appointed judge, who should've faced automatic recusal due to conflict of interest, depriving voters of critical information about the criminality & treason of 1 of the candidates, who should've prevented from running by that same section of the amendment. Our rule of law, democracy & constitutional obeisance are all being undermined & subverted by Trump, the GOP & SCOTUS, and the failure of the DOJ to promptly prosecute members of the upper political & corporate hierarchy who violate the law.
Unfortunately, McConnell's treachery denying Obama's judicial nomination a hearing, ramming through a manifestly unqualified nominee who had been credibly accused of rape & sexual assault, & then rushing through another obviously unqualified nominee just before the 2020 election, has never been addressed or challenged in any way by President Obama, Congress or the DOJ of any of the last 3 administrations. And the current DOJ keeps ignoring 1 constitutional violation or crime after another & only occasionally finally gets around to a violation reluctantly after lots of public pressure.
Mr. Rashid, the quote from Bull Halsey has long been one of my favorites, but I apply it to all technology...use it first before we know the consequences.
Of course I'm not convinced all new technology is good or something should be done because it can be done.
It's kind of the Eastman approach to the electoral count in 2021. Whether it will stand constitutional scrutiny or not shouldn't stand in the way of not counting the votes; because if it's thrown back to the states and the results change, then it's much more difficult to be constitutionally scrutinized because it was thrown back to the states which congress could do and the judicial scrutiny would become something different....
We throw new technologies onto the world and it is difficult to later retract them. Like the fight over gas engines and fossil fuel powered electricity. There is a difference between scientific learning and technological use
Gunpowder existed before guns. Guns were thrown into the mix before too much was thought about the consequences...some are making warnings about AI and CRISPR today. If we were truly the rational creatures many claim us to be we would think first.
For instance the obsessions with aliens invading earth or us moving to another planet. We already know extended stays in space alter the human physique. Evolution shows us that even here on earth, changes in the atmospheric condition, gravitational or electro-magnetic alterations, water conditions, etc. can effect evolution, and evolution can affect those. It really doesn't matter if life has been on mars, if we were to live there we would survive only by evolving to conditions on Mars and those conditions would create an evolutionary response and humans, plants, animals would need to evolve from the humans, plants and animals into something else.
Knowledge of something's possibilities is not the same as technologies that are developed from those possibilities.
Perhaps rational beings need to learn that just because we can doesn't necessarily equate to because we can it will be better.
Rahm Emmanuel should be recalled as ambassador to Japan for insulting the Japanese people. He cannot be effective. How is he even a democrat? ( small d or capital d)
More evidence that the U.S. is willing to use my tax dollars to break international laws with abandon, at will. We are the bully of the world and I'm ashamed and angry.
I’m a 61 year old American and this is the first time I’ve ever heard about any disagreeing voices from the military in WWII speaking against the nuclear bombing. It’s adding to the compilation of information about historical American policies and world-wide foreign manipulation that has been coming out in recent years. The advent of social media has been the biggest source of the truth in decades. The governments can’t suppress everything, nor everyone, from sharing the information they have kept so long from the general public. I no longer feel proud of America due to the shameful legacy and policies - that haven’t changed and continue to this day. I don’t understand how the government is still supporting Israel during this genocide, when most of the world is saying this is criminal behavior. Learning how America is concurrently involved in other countries internal conflicts is also disheartening and frankly scary for the future.
Thank you Qasim for your efforts to help and educate!
Actually, Japan dismissed Israel and was hoping America pulls out. They wanted a peaceful ceremony and having either would have disrupted and disturbed survivors of that massacre!
This fucking pissed me off so much. But what do we expect from Rahm Emmanuel? I can't imagine a less appropriate ambassador to Japan than this asshole with negative couth.
Wow. Your historical review revealed a lot I didn't know about senior American military leaders opposing dropping the atom bomb and Japanese efforts to negotiate peace.
As usual, you write with great power and clarity. Bravo!!
According to Le Monde, UK informed the Nagasaki mayor that disinviting Israel created an equivalency with Russia and Belarus, the other two nations that were not invited and created an impression that Israeli actions in Gaza were as bad as Russia’s in Ukraine !!
The moral bankruptcy and hypocrisy of Western nations have never been starker.
The bombing of Japan is an issue about which I have always had mixed feelings, often too influenced by the last book I read on the subject. But I have no argument with your condemnation of Israel and the US for standing with Israel over Japan. What is this fascination we have with Israel? We feel guilt about the holocaust (as we should) but none about the atomic bombing??
I'm also confused as to why the statue you show is caucasian.
Finally, scientists are and were no more qualified to make moral decisions than Trump's cult.
Why not endorse Bobby Kennedy-- who wants to end Imperialism, slash defense budget, and shut our 880 military bases abroad...
Sigh… I hate to admit that I am thoroughly confused by our country’s back and forth wishwash position on « world peace ». It’s bad enough that we are tearing each other apart right here at home (mass shootings, racist and hateful violence, etc), but the way we interact with other countries is… I don’t even know. One minute the powers that be are pushing for peace treaties and ceasefires, the next they’re boycotting peacekeeping operations. It’s a never ending clusterfuck.
Great article, thanks for shining light on this important topic! Who are the other five Nations that boycotted the anniversary in solidarity for Israel? Their behavior is absolutely shameful and unacceptable.
😡😡😡😡😡
This is a shameful act of hypocrisy. The US is clearly on the morally wrong side of this.
Qasim, thank you for this; I wouldn't have known and am deeply disappointed. There was nothing positive to be gained by this boycott and everything to lose. And it flies in the fact of the idea that the US supports Israel's security but does not support the Gaza war... Sure hope that Kamala agrees with this distinction and makes this public as soon she can.. It has also not been so public that our military was against dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki... it was suggested to drop on Tokyo
Bay which would have made the point and killed less people. Whatever was Truman thinking:...???
Sometimes I wonder if Biden really makes the decisions, at least in certain cases. I'm not suggesting Kamala is, either, because I doubt she is, but I wonder who is. US policy on Israel in view of its atrocities against Gazans doesn't make much sense. I'm also surprised that these other countries withdrew, too. If I recall correctly, I think they are UK, France, Germany & Italy.
He doesn’t! He does what the lobby tells him to do.
Why?
Regarding atrocities against Gazans, this is so important that seems the President must make decisions, and he has not been clear. This is important enough that he should make his policy clear across departments especially with State... The other countries didn't drop an A bomb on Japan... it is up to us to honor this event.
His disappointing policy or lack thereof on Gaza was one of the reasons for low approval of Bidens candidacy...
I can't think of anyone worse than Donnie Trump. But I have to admit that I had been prepared to "hold my nose, and vote for Biden." He has some significant flaws, but his "ironclad" support for Israel and Netanyahu is the worst. He has blocked otherwise unanimous UN motions against Israeli genocide of innocent Palestinians and others, and now, he lacks the humility and ability to acknowledge mistaken bad behavior on the US' part that should have led him to send an envoy to Japan with hat in hand, and with available apology. I will assume this decision was his, and not Harris'. Truman took heat for that nuclear decision. Does Biden somehow not know that? Or, and I hate to think it, does he just not care? I truly am hopeful that Harris and Walz will be better than this.
I feel embarrassed. Is the USA a moral/ethical desert? Hello! We are the ones who dropped the bombs. We were trying to get the technology first, before the Germans in WWII. Many of the scientists were refugees from Europe who knew exactly what the danger was. But the scientists also were thinking of it as a deterrent - which since WWII it has been, thank goodness. The Mayor’s point in not inviting Israel is to promote peace over war, and he is on firm moral ground. If other countries boycott, it’s too bad. But for us to boycott is indefensible. We don’t need to further make clear we support Israel; is anyone in doubt? But here was an opportunity to stand for peace, for international rules of engagement, for ethical behavior……..and we squandered it. For what? The Mayor and Japan are trying to honor the victims and point the way to a better, nuclear bomb free, violence free peace loving future. How on earth can we defend this decision? Who made this decision? I have questions!
I hope we all have enough self awareness to be embarrassed.
Dropped two nuclear ones on Japan, and sold lots more to Netanyahu.
Apparently, Oppenheimer himself came to think of it as a mistake.
It's amazing that the Jews/Israelis, who make a millennia-long career out of complaining that "everybody's picking on [us]" behave as they do toward the Palestinians. This is precisely what Passover and Yom Kippur are for: to remind you not to do this kind of thing. Absolutely right, Ms Koppell: peace over war. And no one should know this better than the Jews.
I support my offspring, too. That means I taught them to behave properly. It doesn't mean I encouraged or even enabled them to ride roughshod over everyone else. Had I failed them that way, I would, as you say, have squandered my role as a parent.
I have the same question you do, but as I said, I'm assuming it was Biden who decided. Although Walz has avoided commenting on the Middle East, too, as if it was a third rail he didn't want to touch. So it's possible Harris could have concurred, or at least agreed not to express a difference of opinion.
I really wonder who is making some of these decisions. I'm pretty sure it's not Harris, but I doubt it's Biden, either, other than possibly approving what someone else in the government says.
It's their decision to "make," even if they're just accepting advice from some other functionary or "expert."
Of course, it is. After all, as Truman said, "the buck stops here". But do others in government see Biden as a pushover, who will meekly sign onto whatever they want?
I really have the feeling, & I know I'm not alone, that others in the government are making a lot of the decisions & running the government, & Biden to some degree is more or less a figurehead. On most issues, the government has been run quite well, so there are a lot of competent members of the government, which is a good thing. But on this issue, it seems they are blinded by a loyalty to Israel which has the US always unquestioningly automatically backing Israel, which in my view, has been a big mistake, at least since the enormity of the suffering on Gazans perpetrated by Israel became clear. And by the way, it's not the only issue this administration has been wrong or lax on, possibly fatally. The failure by the DOJ & FBI to hold accountable Trump & all the other Republican members of Congress & the federal judiciary who have subverted the democratic processes of America has been inexcusably irresponsible & dangerously derelict.
This is what must change in our government. I'm not sure Harris is the one to do it, which is why I was pulling for real reformers & leaders of conscience like Elizabeth Warren & Jamie Raskin to have a chance to run for President.
I totally agree with you about Warren and Raskin. And you can say what you want about Sanders' age, but... I would have been very happy to have the buck stop at Sen Harris' desk. Then, she completely surrendered her edge in the primaries, and I can't tell if she's gotten it back. We'll see if she wipes the floor with Donnie during one or more debates. I'm very satisfied with Walz.
Maybe I'm missing your point, or something else, but when Donnie was whining about a stolen election, 65 judges told him to drop dead. The DOJ and FBI were diligent after 1/6, and many people pled guilty and were otherwise incarcerated. The other members of Congress whined, too, but nothing came of it.
The big problem is Mitchy McConnell, who saw to it that we would have a SCOTUS that would destroy anything like democracy in this country. I don't know that the DOJ or FBI could have done anything about Mitchy.
We shall see.
I agree about Bernie. He's as sharp as anyone. Hasn't lost anything mentally, & remains the conscience of Washington, DC. But in a campaign where age was such an issue, putting in the oldest person yet was probably not a winner, although who really knows?
I am also pleased with Walz. And since running for President, Kamala has been virtually flawless. I instinctively recoil at the thought of someone being coronated the nominee, especially one who has never gotten a vote for President on her own. But I recognize the messiness of a fair primary, which we were denied this time, & I was impressed in a sense by all the Democratic bigwigs galvanizing around her. There's a lot of uncertainty about what she stands for though. She should have the edge in a one on one debate, as long as she puts on her prosecutorial attitude.
What you're missing from my comment is that many members of Trump's administration & Congress were in on the attempt to overturn the election results & incite an insurrection, breaking their oaths of office (& much worse, in some cases), which according to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, is worthy of expulsion, & probably of prosecution as well. The investigation & prosecution of Trump was very tardy & not serious enough, at least until Jack Smith became in charge, & as a result, most of the trials have been delayed until after the election by corrupt, antidemocratic, anti-constitutional allies of Trump on the Supreme Court & an obviously biased & incompetent Trump-appointed judge, who should've faced automatic recusal due to conflict of interest, depriving voters of critical information about the criminality & treason of 1 of the candidates, who should've prevented from running by that same section of the amendment. Our rule of law, democracy & constitutional obeisance are all being undermined & subverted by Trump, the GOP & SCOTUS, and the failure of the DOJ to promptly prosecute members of the upper political & corporate hierarchy who violate the law.
Unfortunately, McConnell's treachery denying Obama's judicial nomination a hearing, ramming through a manifestly unqualified nominee who had been credibly accused of rape & sexual assault, & then rushing through another obviously unqualified nominee just before the 2020 election, has never been addressed or challenged in any way by President Obama, Congress or the DOJ of any of the last 3 administrations. And the current DOJ keeps ignoring 1 constitutional violation or crime after another & only occasionally finally gets around to a violation reluctantly after lots of public pressure.
Great question! I think killing innocent civilians should be a war crime!
It is. But Biden blocked the ICJ from issuing a warrant.